Princess Nesta of Wales -her lovers and children

From my research from sources authentic and dubious, I have compiled the following list of lovers and offspring of the fertile and popular Princess Nesta:

To King Henry, a son Henry, killed about 1157 at Anglesey.

To King Henry, a son Robert, Earl of Gloucestor, who would have been born in 1190 when Nesta was 17, a hostage in the royal household and Henry would have been a Prince not yet king. Another woman, Sybella, is also said to have been the mother of Robert. Given that Henry had 22 bastards it is hard to know who was sharing the royal bed. The problem is that if Nesta was 17 when Robert was born, she was at least 30 when Henry FitzHenry was born. The gap between the two pregnancies makes it unlikely she was the mother of both men, unless the King had a second sentimental fling with her.

To the Constable of Cardigan Castle, Stephen, a son Robert, killed campaigning in Ireland in about 1182.

To Hait, Sheriff of Pembroke, a son, William FtzHay, later Lord of St Clears.

To two men, seemingly unknown to history, two sons - Walter and Hoel. Walter and Hoel held Velfrey and llanber in Wales before joining the Fitzgerald family's invasion of Ireland and later settled in Wexford. But could these men have been illegitimate sons of Maurice Fitzgerald?

Nesta appears to have had six children to her complaisant husband Gerald of Windsor and Pembroke.

William, the eldest, took the surnanme Carew from the family castle;

David, archdeacon of Cardigan and later Bishop of St Davids;

Maurice, who took the surname FitzGerald and invaded Ireland with his sons, half brothers, nephews and kith and kin in 1169.

A daughter - Nesta - who married Maurice de Prendergast in Wales. He also joined the invasion.

A daughter - Angharad - named after her mother's sister, the wife of the King of Gwynedd. Angharad married William de Barry of Manobier.

Lastly, Agnes, about whom nothing else seems to be known.

That makes about 12 children, which suggests Nesta was remarkably healthy. If she died about the age of 41 it could have been from exhaustion, the complications of yet another pregnancy or so called natural causes.

Along the way she was kidnapped by her second cousin who lusted after her one Christmas night.

If history can't find a proper place for Nesta, I am sure Hollywood could.

Dare I suggest Catherine Zeta Jones in the title role?

But seriously, how did she get away with her behaviour? Women were put away in nunneries for life for less.

Nesta must have had personality plus and a very uncomplaining husband (who may have been getting something on the side himself).

The Cambro-Normans in Wales appear to have played as hard as they fought.